Clint Eastwood’s bizarre vaudevillian conversation with an empty chair meant to represent an absentee commander-in-chief President Obama last week at the Republican National Convention is still earning the veteran actor and director a lion’s share of criticism. The fact that the “empty chair” speech isn’t going anywhere anytime soon has some media outlets wondering whether or not Eastwood’s RNC antics will hurt the opening of his upcoming film.
Eastwood’s talents as an actor and director are not on trial here. He continues to prove himself as one of the most creative veteran filmmakers in Hollywood. The question stems from balancing his success in Hollywood against his 12-minute speech at the Republican National Convention last week, and its subsequent viral pick-up. Memes abound, #Eastwooding is still a trending topic, and the @InvisbleObama account on Twitter show that the reaction to Eastwood’s speech hasn’t died out just yet. Will that prove disastrous for Trouble With the Curve when it hits theaters later this month?
“If you’re a Clint Eastwood fan, my guess is you’ll probably still go to see the movie,” said S. Mark Young, professor at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and co-author of The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America. “If you’re not, you might be very disappointed with what’s become of Clint.”
Young contends that despite the online mockery Eastwood is receiving, the public generally doesn’t hold odd public appearances against Hollywood stars when it comes to the box office. Remember Tom Cruise’s strange appearance on Oprah? Didn’t really hurt the actor too much at the theater.
“Unless someone has done something truly egregious, people are still going to go to the movies,” said Young. “If people go to see Trouble With the Curve, it’s probably not because they side or don’t side with Clint’s political beliefs. They’re going to go to be entertained, whether they like movies about baseball or just the stuff that Eastwood has done in the past.”
“What he did is not going to help him, but it’s certainly not going to harm him either,” said Scott Feinberg, a blogger for The Hollywood Reporter. “The fallout and embarrassment from what he did is probably punishment enough for Clint. Ultimately, I don’t think his 11-minute speech can undo his 50-plus-year legacy in Hollywood.”
Trouble With the Curve stars Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, and Justin Timberlake. It opens September 21st. Are you going to see it?
Does Clint talk to empty chairs in the movie? That I will go see.
I found nothing wrong with Clint Eastwoods speach. He said what he felt, in his own way which is his right. I happen to think very highly of him and the great things he accomplished, and I admire him. If he offened anyone, get over it, he just said it like it is. He brought some humor onto the podium. Great Job Clint, and I for one will definately see your movie. I guess the truth hurts some people at least you were completly honest in how you felt.
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yes he brought ($$$$$) it to the podium. Admit the Republican Party is full of racist and racial overtones. News media and others have made money because our President made history. They don't want to talk and monitor anything else. When his next term is over folks in the media will lose money. Our President is a good leader and if you think Romney or Clint Eastwood will put a dollar in your pocket u need to be in that empty chair. Our kids will put an end to this racism in years to come. Only the few elite are taught separatism, racism, and white supremacy. Kids in public schools are loving and marrying each other for the correct reasons. Color is blending. Can't stop that and I am happy about it. If Obama were white, it would be different. The republican party would have voted to get millions back to work. They are the ones who want to control people and keep the old stuff alive that divided us in the first place. Our President did and does not deserve the disrespect. Do You? I don't know you but the Republican Party will be shut out for years to come. Watch out for Castro of SanAntonio, Hillary Clinton and a few other minorities in 2016. I appreciate your view. Eastwood was one of my favorite actors but now I would not even buy a bootleg copy of his movie. Sorry. And yes the empty chair will make a difference.
Obama is not a good leader…he is likely the most incompetent president we have ever had (with Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, and Harry Reid's help, maybe even surpassing Jimmy Carter). He is a follower of socialist views that do not represent what made this country great (which is strong personal self reliance, strong business entrepreneurship, and a president with a strong foreign policy who does not apologize to extremist Muslims for our US Constitution). Clint Eastwood would likely make a good president (the last actor we had in the White House did pretty well). I mean, who would you rather have face those Looney tune muslim leaders in the Middle East? Dirty Harry, or that "you didn't build it", "the video caused our ambassador's death" apologizing, woosy Obama? But, since Clint won't be on the ballot, Romney is by far the next best choice. And, I don't look for Romney, nor anyone else, to put a dollar in my pocket. If Romney can put a stop to the class warfare Obama has been waging, and get the government out of the private business sector, I'll put all the dollars I need in my pocket myself.